Although it once seemed like Microsoft and TiVo could never come to terms, the companies have decided to walk away from all their lawsuits and pretend like they never happened.

TiVo today filed a regulatory statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to dismiss all pending patent litigation against its operation. In addition, TiVo has agreed to drop its counterclaim against Microsoft.

In early 2010, Microsoft sued TiVo, claiming the DVR company was violating patents it holds related to video purchasing and delivery. The move was designed to defend AT&T, a Microsoft video partner and a company TiVo sued in 2009 for allegedly using its "time-warping" technology.

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Microsoft followed up that suit last year with a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission, requesting the organization ban TiVos from sale in the U.S. Microsoft said at the time that it tried to negotiate a licensing deal with TiVo, but those attempts failed, prompting its ITC complaint.

Meanwhile, TiVo was on a lawsuit spree, taking aim at a host of companies, including Microsoft, over claims that the firms violated many of its patents. And while many companies fell in court to TiVo's pressure, it seemed that the legal wranglings with Microsoft were secondary. Today's announcement appears to corroborate that.

Licensing has become a key component in TiVo's business. In fact, last year, it finally ended a seven-year-old case against Dish Network and EchoStar that saw TiVo net $500 million. The strength of the company's patents has caught the attention of shareholders, who have pushed TiVo's stock up nearly 36 percent in the last year to $11.82.

About the author

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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